The Sighs of the King
POV: Lucien
I had just finished getting dressed into the stuffy uniform that I really hated to wear this garb and I had imagined that others did too. Today we would eliminate all but three of the ladies for the final part of the Queen competition. The next part would have them participating in daily activities and we couldn’t see having all of the ladies doing so. Everyone assumed the three ladies would be Jess, Alexandra, and Melody since each of them had higher scores than the rest. I wasn’t sure who the council chose to eliminate either. They met without me the night before to decide, they felt it would be best to take me out of the decision-making at this point. I would be in the dark from here on out and I had to say that I was not thrilled by the prospect of not knowing Alexandra’s status in all of this. I sighed lamenting the thought that it was very real that I would not be marrying the love of my life. Malinus cleared his throat, “You’ve been sighing all morning. Care to share your worries, Your Majesty?” I sighed again, “I just hate that I have no control over who I get to marry.” He shook his head, “And who made the initial decision to take it out of his own hands?” Yet another sigh escaped my lips, “I did but I had not anticipated falling in love with Alexandra.” He smiled at me, “Of course, you didn’t but you also didn’t give yourself time to fall in love with her either.” I grunted in frustration, “You know very well that I had to make a decision or I would have lost the crown to my brother and we both know he isn’t necessarily suitable to be King. He’s not measured and has a temper especially when it comes to Alexandra. He would lay waste to Maigny Meadows if he had the power to do so. I had to act quickly.” He shrugged at me, “Well, I am sure the panel who is going to choose your wife will make the best choice for Vellum. You and I both know your mother adores Alexandra so she will fight like mad to keep her.” I shook my head, “My mother is fair despite her love for Alexandra. If she felt like Alexandra wasn’t up to measure on something, she wouldn’t rank her higher.”
There was a knock on the door and I spoke firmly, “Come in.” My brother walked into the room wearing his uniform and sash to indicate he was royalty, “Brother, the team is in place for the extraction. Alexandra has just left Blackwood with Toby Ligidew as her guard. I cannot imagine what would take Chalshin away from our girl. What could be more important than guarding future royalty?” My brother was convinced that one way or another Alexandra was going to be part of this family. He told me that he would take care of her should she not be chosen for the competition. I sighed again at the thought and he looked at me puzzled. Malinus chuckled, “Whatever you do don’t mention Alexandra’s marriage to him. He’s been sighing about it all morning.” Blake patted me on the back, “For the first time in our lives, I think we understand each other very well. Who knew it would be over a woman?” I adjusted my sleeves to fit comfortably over my elbows after Malinus helped me into my jacket, “To answer your question, Derek is in love.” Blake’s jaw clenched, “So he felt the need to distance himself from the woman he’s in love with?” I shook my head, “He isn’t in love with Alexandra. He’s in love with Jess.” I could hear my brother sigh in relief, “That’s one less to compete with. So where did he go then?” Malinus answered for me, “He went to speak to Lord Kellen about permission to propose to her. He did it just in case Jess gets eliminated and he can announce the betrothal at the Assembly as is customary.” Blake shook his head, “Poor bastard won’t get that chance. She’s a favorite to land Lucien.” I didn’t like my marriage being reduced to winning some kind of lottery.
Since I was finished getting ready, I stepped out of my room followed by my brother and Malinus. We walked down the stairs and met up with my mother and the two princesses who were still visiting. We were all ready to enter but the rest were not here yet. I pulled us all into the study and asked Malinus to get us some tea while we waited, “It appears we were all pretty anxious about this assembly.” Sylphia nodded, “I have to announce that I will be leaving tomorrow with your prisoners amongst other things.” She looked over at Nystasia who was beaming, “I’m so excited to go live with Alexandra! We will have to have a little sleepover.” Sylphia sighed, “Just remember that Alexandra is not interested in you. Nothing inappropriate.” She laughed, “I know that, silly. She’s in love with someone else.” Sylphia cleared her throat and tried to come off the subject so as not to hurt my brother, “So Lucien, it seems you are anxious about something.” I nodded, “I don’t like this, not knowing who my final three candidates are.” My mother sighed, “I don’t know if you will like the results, to be honest.” I felt my heart jump up into my throat at her announcement. My brother leaned forward, “Oh? Is it something to do with Alexandra?” She cleared her throat, “I cannot say. I just know that he won’t be pleased with at least two of the results.” Two of the results automatically meant that someone fought to keep Melody in and we wouldn’t have the opportunity to arrest her father and herself today. I sunk in my seat, “I had looked forward to arresting those bastards.” She nodded, “I know, son but she has strong support in the council based on the fact that she has been in Vellum longer and knows about our customs.” This was a subtle jab at Alexandra but it wasn’t from my mother, she was merely quoting what she heard. I knew exactly who it was from too. Blake grunted, “Alexandra is a fast learner, she wouldn’t need to know the customs. She could learn them.” My mother shrugged, “There’s prejudice against her nonetheless. It would be different if the council knew of Maigny’s treachery but since they have family in the council it makes it hard.”
Blake leaned forward in his seat rubbing his chin, this meant that he was formulating an idea. He shook his head and leaned back. Nystasia shook her head, “You have an idea but you don’t want your brother to benefit from it. Do you?” He shot a glare at her, “You just don’t know when not to be a blabbermouth.” Sylphia sighed, “She has no filter, Blake. She just says what she wants with no thoughts about repercussions.” She turned to her sister, “You might have just created conflict here sister.” Nystasia grunted, “I just don’t think he should keep them apart if he knows of a solution to fix the issue in the council.” Blake rolled his eyes, “It isn’t a fix. I didn’t tell my brother because I’m unsure of it yet. I’m not so devious as to keep my brother from marrying the woman he loves even if she happens to be the very same woman I love. Besides, we don’t know her feelings yet.” Nystasia went to open her mouth but Sylphia pinched her leg, “Owwww, what was that for?!” Sylphia glared at her, “You know very well. Be quiet.” Blake narrowed his eyes at the sisters, “Is there something I should know?” Sylphia shook her head, “It isn’t our place to say anything about her feelings. She has to tell you how she feels about you herself. My sister forgets that to interfere in love as a fae is seen as a sin to our deity Aphrodite in our society. It is taboo.” Blake clenched his jaw, likely from his frustration that someone knew Alexandra’s true feelings and they wouldn’t tell him. My mother spoke up, “In any case, we should probably finish up our tea since I believe the nobles are probably assembled now.”
We all finished up our tea and filed out of the room where Malinus was standing in front of the door. He sighed and whispered to me, “Your Majesty, I was just told of the decision by the council. I’m not sure you’re going to like the final three.” There it was again from another person and my heart dropped. He must’ve seen the look on my face and shook his head, “I don’t know if it is all that bad but there is a twist in there that you really won’t like.” I looked at him, “What twist is that?” He shrugged, “I’m not allowed to say anything else. Her Eminence said this would upset the balance or something like that. You’ll find out.” I gave him a pointed look, “Does my mother know about this?” Malinus took a quick glance at my mother and then back at me, “She does not. They made this decision on their own without her or Her Eminence. I had argued that this was unprecedented but they insisted that it was justified. They didn’t explain the justification to me though.” The princesses, my mother, and my brother all entered into the throne room. I sighed for what seemed like the millionth time today and stepped into the room with the announcement of my arrival. I sat down on my throne and scanned the room. All were, indeed, assembled. I rose from my seat, “We should get to the business of our foreign envoy. Princess Sylphia would like to address the assembly.”
She stepped down from her spot on the dais and cleared her throat. She pulled out a scroll and unraveled it, “Lords and Ladies, Your Majesties, Your Highness. I humbly stand before you to thank you all for the warm hospitality and kindness that you have displayed towards my sister and me. My mother, the Seely Queen, has a message for you as well which I will read to you.” She read from the scroll, “Citizens of Vellum, my kindest regards to you. I am pleased to know that relations between our two realms remain strong. I would like to extend my gratitude for the kindness shown to my daughters. That being said, I feel it is time to bring Sylphia home to Seely as she will start to train to become Queen as I anticipate abdicating the throne very soon. My other daughter Nystasia has requested to stay in a study program that she has devised with your Headmaster and the King has graciously accepted her admission into this program. I would like to thank the House Batiste for graciously offering to host her for her duration in Vellum. This favor will not soon be forgotten. I would like to offer House Batiste a symbol of our friendship for this.” She stepped forward and handed Reggie a talisman, “Your Grace, this stone is a special fae stone. It not only symbolizes that you are considered a friend to Seely Royalty but it also is a beacon should you need our assistance.” She walked back up to the dais and took her seat to indicate she was finished with her speech.
I stood up in my spot and nodded at the council, “The council will now announce the final three candidates for Queen. From this day forth, you will be tasked by the council to complete actions and they will evaluate your work. If Elder Edgar can step forward and make the announcement.” Edgar stood up and wiped the noticeable abundance of sweat from his forehead. He stepped in front of the dais and looked back at his fellow Elders who all nodded at him. He looked up at me unsure of how to proceed. He muttered, “The first lady who will be continuing on Melody Maigny of House Maigny.” Whispers sounded in the room and Marquis Maigny had a smirk on his face. I hated how confident and arrogant he was when he did nothing to earn it. Edgar drew a very deep breath, “The second lady who will continue forward will be Tarea Ligidew.” A gasp went up in the room and many whispered what this meant for either Alexandra or Jess. I looked over at her and she was looking nervous. I looked at Jess who had an expression on her face that was unreadable. Edgar cleared his throat, “That brings me to the last candidate but before we can announce her. We must address a grievous accusation against her.” More whispers sounded out through the room about what this could mean. Blake leaned toward me and whispered, “Do you have any idea what this is about?” I shook my head, “I was only told that I would be upset with the results.” Edgar nervously said the next thing, “Alexandra Batiste of House Batiste. Please step forward so that you may be judged.”
